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Clostridium perfringens

Clostridium perfringens is an anaerobic, Gram-positive, rod-shaped sporulating bacterium that plays an important part in disposing of cadavers. This bacterium can divide every 6.3 minutes, which means it has the shortest generation time in the world.

Domain

Bacteria

Class

Clostridia

Order

Clostridiales

Family

Clostridiaceae

Genus

Clostridium

Clostridium perfringens is an anaerobic, Gram-positive, rod-shaped sporulating bacterium that plays an important part in disposing of cadavers. This bacterium can divide every 6.3 minutes, which means it has the shortest generation time in the world.

Waste disposer

Clostridium perfringens plays an important part in disposing of cadavers, as it breaks down animal fat. They are found in almost every part of the environment. This includes water and soil, as well as in the intestines of many mammals. It is even an integral part of our own gut microbiota.

United we stand

This usually harmless gut microbe can cause food poisoning. This bacterium produces toxins. But it will only make you ill if too much of it gets into your body. One way this can happen is if you eat meat dishes that have been left out of the refrigerator for too long.